Abstract:

A servo control system configured to position a head in accordance with
position error signals between servo data on a disk read by the head in a
servo sampling cycle and a target position. The system includes a
plurality of adaptive peak filters connected in parallel configured to
filter the position error signals and configured to change filter
coefficients adaptively, and an estimator configured to estimate head
vibration caused by disturbances using the servo data read by the head.
The system further includes a selector configured to select a portion of
the plurality of adaptive peak filters at preset occasions, and a setter
configured to update coefficient settings of the portion of the adaptive
peak filters selected by the selector in accordance with an estimation by
the estimator.

Claims:

1. A servo control system configured to position a head in accordance with
position error signals between servo data on a disk read by said head in
a servo sampling cycle and a target position, said system comprising:a
plurality of adaptive peak filters connected in parallel configured to
filter said position error signals and configured to change filter
coefficients adaptively;an estimator configured to estimate head
vibration caused by disturbances using said servo data read by said
head;a selector configured to select a portion of said plurality of
adaptive peak filters at preset occasions; anda setter configured to
update coefficient settings of said portion of said adaptive peak filters
selected by said selector in accordance with an estimation by said
estimator.

2. The servo control system of claim 1, wherein said selector is
configured to select a portion of said plurality of adaptive peak filters
at a seek operation by said head.

3. The servo control system of claim 2, wherein said setter is configured
to update said coefficient settings of said portion of said adaptive peak
filters at said seek operation.

4. The servo control system of claim 1, wherein said selector is
configured to perform a next selection at a time that said setter updates
said coefficient settings of said portion of said adaptive peak filters.

5. The servo control system of claim 4, wherein said estimator is
configured to estimate said head vibration using a plurality of servo
data obtained in a track-following operation; and said setter is
configured to update said coefficient settings of said portion of said
adaptive peak filters at a seek operation.

6. The servo control system of claim 1, wherein said selector is
configured to select sequentially said plurality of adaptive peak filters
one by one so as to select all of said adaptive peak filters of said
plurality of adaptive peak filters.

7. The servo control system of claim 1, wherein said selector is
configured to re-select said same adaptive peak filter if an update
amount in a setting update is greater than a threshold level.

8. The servo control system of claim 1, wherein said setter is configured
to update coefficient settings for determining peak frequencies and gains
of said selected adaptive peak filters.

9. The servo control system of claim 1, wherein characteristics of said
plurality of adaptive peak filters are identical if peak frequencies are
equal.

10. The servo control system of claim 1, wherein, if a first adaptive peak
filter of said plurality of adaptive peak filters exists in an area
within a half bandwidth of a second adaptive peak filter such that a
phase difference between said first and said second adaptive peak filters
is less than or equal to 90 degrees, said selector is configured to
select said first adaptive peak filter of said plurality of adaptive peak
filters.

11. The servo control system of claim 1, wherein said selector is
configured to select more adaptive peak filters in an error recovery than
in normal operations.

12. A servo control method for positioning a head in accordance with
position error signals between servo data on a disk read by said head in
a servo sampling cycle and a target position, said method
comprising:estimating head vibration caused by disturbances using servo
data read by said head;selecting a portion of a plurality of adaptive
peak filters that filter said position error signals and are connected in
parallel;updating coefficient settings of said portion of said adaptive
peak filters in accordance with said estimating; andrepeating said
estimating, said selecting, and said updating.

13. The servo control method of claim 12, wherein said portion of said
plurality of adaptive peak filters is selected at a seek operation by
said head.

14. The servo control method of claim 13, wherein said coefficient
settings of said portion of said adaptive peak filters are updated at a
seek operation.

15. The servo control method of claim 12, wherein a next selecting is
performed at a time that said coefficient settings of said portion of
said adaptive peak filters are updated.

16. The servo control method of claim 15, wherein said head vibration is
estimated using a plurality of servo data obtained in a track-following
operation; and said coefficient settings of said portion of said adaptive
peak filters are updated at a seek operation.

17. The servo control method of claim 12, further comprising:re-selecting
said same adaptive peak filter if an update amount in a setting update is
greater than a threshold level.

18. The servo control method of claim 12, wherein coefficient settings for
determining peak frequencies and gains of said selected adaptive peak
filters are updated.

19. The servo control method of claim 12, wherein characteristics of said
plurality of adaptive peak filters are identical if peak frequencies are
equal.

20. The servo control method of claim 12, wherein more adaptive peak
filters are selected in an error recovery than in normal operations.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]This application claims priority from the Japanese Patent
Application No. 2008-241857, filed Sep. 19, 2008, the disclosure of which
is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002]Embodiments of the present invention relate to a head servo control
system and a head servo control method used in a disk drive.

BACKGROUND

[0003]Disk drives using various kinds of disks, such as optical disks,
magneto-optical disks, flexible magnetic-recording disks, and similar
disks for data-storage are known in the art. In particular, hard-disk
drives (HDDs) have been widely used as data-storage devices that have
proven to be indispensable for contemporary computer systems. Moreover,
HDDs have found widespread application to motion picture recording and
reproducing apparatuses, car navigation systems, cellular phones,
removable memories used in digital cameras and similar devices, in
addition to computers, because of their outstanding information-storage
characteristics.

[0004]Magnetic-recording disks used in a HDD have multiple concentric data
tracks and multiple servo sectors provided discretely in the
circumferential direction. User data is recorded in units of data
sectors; and, data sectors are recorded between servo sectors. A rotary
actuator moves a head-slider above a spinning magnetic-recording disk. A
magnetic-recording head of the head-slider accesses a desired data sector
in accordance with position data indicated by a servo sector to write
data to, or alternatively, to read data from, the data sector.

[0005]Servo sectors are recorded on magnetic-recording disks during HDD
manufacturing. Typically, after mounting a magnetic-recording disk on a
HDD, servo sectors are recorded on the magnetic-recording disk by
mechanical control of a magnetic-recording head and an actuator to which
the magnetic-recording head is affixed through electrical control of a
voice-coil motor (VCM) attached to the actuator. The recorded servo data
may deviate from ideal annular tracks, which occurs during servo data
writing, or after servo data writing, because of eccentricity of the
magnetic-recording disk, or other factors such as external vibration.
Hence, servo data which the magnetic-recording head reads out from a
servo sector includes a component referred to by the term of art,
"repeatable run-out" (RRO), which is a measure of deviation from ideal
annular tracks. Engineers and scientists engaged in the development of
magnetic-recording technology are interested in further developing servo
control systems to control the effects of RRO that may affect the high
levels of reliability that have come to be expected by consumers in the
market for HDDs.

SUMMARY

[0006]Embodiments of the present invention include a servo control system
configured to position a head in accordance with position error signals
between servo data on a disk read by the head in a servo sampling cycle
and a target position. The system includes a plurality of adaptive peak
filters connected in parallel configured to filter the position error
signals and configured to change filter coefficients adaptively, and an
estimator configured to estimate head vibration caused by disturbances
using the servo data read by the head. The system further includes a
selector configured to select a portion of the plurality of adaptive peak
filters at preset occasions, and a setter configured to update
coefficient settings of the portion of the adaptive peak filters selected
by the selector in accordance with an estimation by the estimator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part
of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the embodiments of the
present invention:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically depicting an example
configuration of a hard-disk drive (HDD), in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example data
structure that extends over the whole of a recording surface of a
magnetic-recording disk, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.

[0010]FIG. 3 is block diagram modeling an example servo control system in
a HDD, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting examples of: adaptive peak
filters, a setting updater for executing computations and setting updates
for adaptation of the adaptive peak filters, and a selector for selecting
an adaptive peak filter subjected to the setting update, in accordance
with embodiments of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of
adaptation of an adaptive peak filter, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically depicting an example
configuration of the setting updater, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically depicting an example of the timing
of information accumulation for estimating external vibration and setting
updates of the coefficients of an adaptive peak filter, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of determining an update
amount, dE, of a variable, E, indicating the peak frequency of an
adaptive peak filter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.

[0016]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a gain setting table,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams schematically depicting example
variations in peak frequencies of adaptive peak filters in adaptation, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are diagrams further schematically depicting
other example variations in peak frequencies of adaptive peak filters in
adaptation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) are diagrams further schematically depicting
yet more example variations in peak frequencies of adaptive peak filters
in adaptation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 13 are graphs showing examples of the filter coefficients of
adaptive peak filters, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.

[0021]FIG. 14 are diagrams illustrating example adaptation of an adaptive
peak filter to be selected for adaptation in normal operations and in an
error recovery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.

[0022]FIG. 15 are diagrams schematically illustrating adaptation of an
adaptive peak filter in a conventional technique, with relevance to
embodiments of the present invention.

[0023]The drawings referred to in this description should not be
understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0024]Reference will now be made in detail to the alternative embodiments
of the present invention. While the invention will be described in
conjunction with the alternative embodiments, it will be understood that
they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the
contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications
and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0025]Furthermore, in the following description of embodiments of the
present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it
should be noted that embodiments of the present invention may be
practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known
methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail as
not to unnecessarily obscure embodiments of the present invention.
Throughout the drawings, like components are denoted by like reference
numerals, and repetitive descriptions are omitted for clarity of
explanation if not necessary.

Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention for a Head Servo
Control System and a Head Servo Control Method

[0026]With relevance to embodiments of the present invention, repeatable
run-out (RRO) acts as a disturbance to servo control; if RRO is large, a
servo control system based on feedback cannot follow the RRO and the
run-out from the head's target position may exceed tolerance. Hence, a
technique is known in the art to suppress the RRO component by inserting
a peak filter into the servo control system. The peak filter has a peak
at the RRO frequency, and position error signals (PESs) which have been
inputted to the peak filter are incorporated into head servo control
signals, which are control signals that are sent to a voice coil motor
(VCM).

[0027]With further relevance to embodiments of the present invention, with
respect to a position error caused by a disturbance at a constant
frequency like RRO, which appears with a low frequency that is an
integral number times the rotational frequency of the spindle motor
(SPM), the disturbance frequency can be estimated so that such a position
error can be effectively suppressed by a peak filter at a fixed peak
frequency. However, various causes exist for disturbances depending on
the environment in which the hard-disk drive (HDD) is used. Accordingly,
a priori estimates of a disturbance frequency caused by vibration
externally applied to a HDD is difficult. Moreover, the frequency may
vary with time. Furthermore, the computational complexity attending
schemes known in the art to estimate the resonant frequency of external
vibration of such disturbances is not minimal. Utilizing such schemes, a
HDD obtains PESs at servo samplings, in a servo sampling cycle, to
estimate the resonant frequency of external vibration from the PESs.
Moreover, the HDD changes the peak frequencies of the peak filters
depending on the estimated resonant frequency.

[0028]With reference now to FIG. 15, with relevance to embodiments of the
present invention, diagrams are shown that schematically illustrate
adaptation of an adaptive peak filter in a conventional technique. FIG.
15 schematically depicts operation of a microprocessor (MPU) in servo
sampling, a term of art that refers to retrieval of servo data. If a HDD
is equipped with only a peak filter, the MPU performs computations for
normal servo control (SRV) with PESs obtained from retrieved servo data,
and further performs computations for frequency adaptation of the peak
filter (APF). The computations for normal servo control are, for example,
computations for proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control using
PESs. The MPU sets the computed result into a servo assistance circuit,
which is hardware, and the peak filter; and the hardware controls an
actuator in accordance with the inputted PESs.

[0029]With further reference to FIG. 15, with relevance to embodiments of
the present invention, the MPU is configured to perform computations for
reading and writing operations and a host interface, as well as
computations for servo control including calculation of the peak
frequency for the peak filter within a servo sampling cycle. Hence, the
time remaining in the MPU for calculation of the peak frequency for the
peak filter is limited. Consequently, in a HDD including a plurality of
peak filters, a technique is desired that properly adapts all of the peak
filters using the limited time and effectively suppresses head vibration
caused by disturbances.

[0030]Embodiments of the present invention provide a servo control system
configured to position a head in accordance with PESs between servo data
on a disk read by the head in a servo sampling cycle and a target
position. The servo control system includes a plurality of adaptive peak
filters, an estimator, a selector, and a setter. The plurality of
adaptive peak filters are connected in parallel, are configured to filter
the PESs, and are configured to change filter coefficients adaptively.
The estimator is configured to estimate head vibration caused by
disturbances using the servo data read by the head. The selector is
configured to select a portion of the plurality of adaptive peak filters
at preset occasions. The setter is configured to update coefficient
settings of the portion of the adaptive peak filters selected by the
selector in accordance with an estimation by the estimator. Thus, in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention, effective
adaptation of each adaptive peak filter to external vibration is achieved
in a head servo control system having a plurality of adaptive peak
filters, while suppressing adverse effects on other operations.

[0031]In one embodiment of the present invention, the selector is
configured to select a portion of the plurality of adaptive peak filters
at a seek operation, or alternatively, at every seek operation, by the
head. In another embodiment of the present invention, the setter is
configured to update the coefficient settings of the portion of the
adaptive peak filters at the seek operation, or alternatively, at every
seek operation. Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention, since a seek operation originally included in the servo
control provides the occasion for these operations, effective selection
may be efficiently achieved.

[0032]In another embodiment of the present invention, the selector is
configured to perform a next selection at a time, or alternatively, every
time, that the setter updates the coefficient settings of the portion of
the adaptive peak filters. Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention, selection at every update provides more appropriate
selection. In another embodiment of the present invention, the estimator
is configured to estimate the head vibration using a plurality of servo
data obtained in a track-following operation, and the setter is
configured to update the coefficient settings of the portion of the
adaptive peak filters at a seek operation, or alternatively, at every
seek operation. Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention, efficient operations may be achieved.

[0033]In another embodiment of the present invention, the selector is
configured to select sequentially the plurality of adaptive peak filters
one by one so as to select all of the adaptive peak filters of the
plurality of adaptive peak filters. Thus, in accordance with embodiments
of the present invention, simple control is provided. In another
embodiment of the present invention, the selector is configured to
re-select the same adaptive peak filter if an update amount in a setting
update is greater than a threshold level. Thus, in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention, swifter suppression of vibration is
provided.

[0034]In another embodiment of the present invention, the setter is
configured to update coefficient settings for determining peak
frequencies and gains of the selected adaptive peak filters. Thus, in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention, suppression of
external vibration is increased. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the characteristics of the plurality of adaptive peak filters
are identical if peak frequencies are equal. Thus, in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention, the interference between the
filters is reduced.

[0035]In another embodiment of the present invention, if a first adaptive
peak filter of the plurality of adaptive peak filters exists in an area
within a half bandwidth of a second adaptive peak filter such that a
phase difference between the first and the second adaptive peak filters
is less than or equal to 90 degrees, the selector is configured to select
the first adaptive peak filter of the plurality of adaptive peak filters.
Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the
interference between the filters is reduced. In one embodiment of the
present invention, the selector is configured to select more adaptive
peak filters in an error recovery than in normal operations. Thus, in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention, swifter error
recovery is provided.

[0036]Another embodiment of the present invention provides a servo control
method for positioning a head in accordance with PESs between servo data
on a disk read by the head in a servo sampling cycle and a target
position. The method estimates head vibration caused by disturbances
using servo data read by the head, selects a portion of a plurality of
adaptive peak filters which filter the PESs and are connected in
parallel, updates coefficient settings of the portion of the adaptive
peak filters in accordance with the estimating, and repeats the
estimating, the selecting, and the updating. Thus, in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention, effective adaptation of each
adaptive peak filter to external vibration is achieved in a head servo
control system having a plurality of adaptive peak filters, while
suppressing adverse effects on other operations.

[0037]In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a HDD
includes a plurality of adaptive peak filters in the servo control system
of the HDD. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are
subsequently described by way of example of a HDD, which is an example of
a disk drive, without limitation thereto. An adaptive peak filter works
to suppress vibration caused by disturbances in head servo control. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the frequency and the gain of the
peak filter are variable. The HDD estimates the peak frequency and the
amplitude of the head vibration caused by disturbances and adapts the
plurality of adaptive peak filters so as to suppress the head vibration.
Even if the head vibration caused by disturbances has a plurality of peak
frequencies, the plurality of peak filters lead to effective suppression
of vibrations and accurate head positioning control. In accordance with
embodiments of the present invention, the HDD selects a portion of the
plurality of adaptive peak filters and performs operations for adaptation
on the selected portion of the adaptive peak filters. The operations on a
portion of the adaptive peak filters may reduce the running time in servo
sampling to avoid effects on other operations and allows each adaptive
peak filter to be properly adapted to external vibration.

[0038]With reference now to FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a block diagram is shown that schematically
depicts the configuration of a HDD 1. HDD 1 includes a magnetic-recording
disk 11, which is a disk for data storage, inside a disk enclosure (DE)
10. The use of a magnetic-recording disk and a magnetic-recording head in
a HDD is by way of example without limitation thereto, as the use of
other data-storage disks and heads in a disk drive is within the spirit
and scope of embodiments of the present invention. A SPM 14 spins the
magnetic-recording disk 11 at a specific angular rate. Head sliders 12
are provided to access the magnetic-recording disk 11; each head slider
12 corresponds to each recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk
11. As used herein, "access" is a term of art that refers to operations
in seeking a data track of a magnetic-recording disk and positioning a
magnetic-recording head on the data track for both reading data from, and
writing data to, a magnetic-recording disk. Each head-slider 12 includes
a slider for flying in proximity to the recording surface of the
magnetic-recording disk and a magnetic-recording head which is affixed to
a slider and converts magnetic signals to and from electrical signals.
Each head-slider 12 is affixed to a distal end of an actuator 16. The
actuator 16, which is coupled to a VCM 15, rotates on a pivot shaft to
move the head-slider 12 in proximity to the recording surface of the
magnetic-recording disk 11 in nominally the radial direction of the
magnetic-recording disk 11.

[0039]With further reference to FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, circuit elements are mounted on a circuit board
20 affixed outside the DE 10. A motor driver unit 22 drives the SPM 14
and the VCM 15 in accordance with control data from a head-disk
controller/microprocessor unit (HDC/MPU) 23. A random access memory (RAM)
24 functions as a buffer for temporarily storing read data and write
data. An arm electronics (AE) module 13 inside the DE 10 selects a
head-slider 12 to access the magnetic-recording disk 11 from multiple
head-sliders 12, amplifies read-back signals therefrom to send the
read-back signals to a read write channel (RW channel) 21. In addition,
AE module 13 sends write signals from the RW channel 21 to the selected
head-slider 12. An embodiment of the present invention may be applied to
a HDD with only a single head-slider 12.

[0040]With further reference to FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the RW channel 21, in a read operation,
amplifies read-back signals supplied from the AE module 13 to have
specific amplitudes, extracts data from the obtained read-back signals,
and decodes the read-back signals. The read-back data includes user data
and servo data. The decoded read user data and servo data are supplied to
HDC/MPU 23. The RW channel 21, in a write operation, code-modulates write
data supplied from HDC/MPU 23, converts the code-modulated data into
write signals, and then supplies the write signals to the AE module 13.

[0041]With further reference to FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, HDC/MPU 23, an example of a controller,
performs control of the HDD 1 in addition to other processes concerning
data processing such as: reading and writing operation control, command
execution order management, positioning control of the head-sliders 12
using servo signals, which is referred to by the term of art, "servo
control," interface control to and from a host 51, defect management, and
error handling when any error occurs. HDC/MPU 23 performs head
positioning control using servo data written on the recording surface of
the magnetic-recording disk 11. In accordance with embodiments of the
present invention, the head servo control is next described in detail.

[0042]With reference now to FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a plan view is shown that schematically depicts a
data structure on the recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk
11. On the recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk 11 are
provided: multiple servo areas 111 extending radially in the radial
direction from the center of the magnetic-recording disk 11 and being
provided discretely at specific angles; and, data areas 112 each formed
between two adjacent servo areas 111. In each servo area 111, servo data
for performing position control of a head-slider 12 are recorded. In each
data area 112, user data are recorded. On the recording surface of the
magnetic-recording disk 11, multiple data tracks having a specific width
in the radial direction are formed concentrically. A data track includes
a data sector as a recording unit of user data and typically includes
multiple data sectors. Typically, a plurality of data tracks are grouped
into a plurality of zones 113a to 113c in accordance with their radial
positions on the recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk 11. The
number of data sectors included in a data track is set for each of the
zones.

[0043]With further reference to FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the magnetic-recording disk 11 similarly
includes multiple concentric servo tracks having a specific width in the
radial direction. Each servo track includes multiple servo data split by
a data area 112. Servo data includes a servo track number, a servo sector
number in the servo track, and burst patterns for fine position control.
The burst pattern includes, for example, four kinds of burst patterns, A,
B, C, and D, which differ from one another in radial position. With the
amplitude of read-back signals of each burst pattern, the position in the
servo track may be determined. The position in the servo track may be
expressed in PESs. The PES is calculated from the amplitudes of the burst
patterns A, B, C, and D; and, for example, one servo track is divided
into 256 PES values in the radial direction.

[0044]With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, upon receipt of a reading, or
writing, command from the host 51, HDC/MPU 23 starts a seek operation.
HDC/MPU 23 moves a head-slider 12 from its initial radial position to a
data track indicating the address specified by the command. HDC/MPU 23
converts the address specified by the command into a servo address to
locate the radial position of a target data track. Upon completion of the
seek operation, HDC/MPU 23 maintains the position of the head-slider 12
above the target data track, which is referred to by the term of art,
"track-following operation." In seek and track-following operations,
HDC/MPU 23 uses servo data read from a recording surface to control the
actuator 16 through the VCM 15. The seek control generally controls the
actuator 16 through the VCM 15 by speed control and position control
using servo data. In track-following control, HDC/MPU 23 performs
positioning control so that the current radial position, given by a servo
address, of a head-slider 12 is within a specific range of the target
radial position, given by a servo address. Positioning of the head-slider
12 within the specific range from the target radial position is one of
the conditions for reading and writing data.

[0045]With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, the servo areas 111 are formed
discretely with substantially equal spacing in the circumferential
direction on a recording surface. Hence, in a track-following operation,
the head-slider 12 reads servo data in a constant cycle, referred to by
the term of art, "servo sampling cycle," and HDC/MPU 23 controls VCM
current based on PESs indicating a position error between the current
servo address indicated by the servo data and the servo address of the
target data track. In accordance with embodiments of the present
invention, HDC/MPU 23 uses a plurality of adaptive peak filters in a
track-following operation, which achieves effective suppression of head
vibration caused by disturbances having a plurality of peak frequencies.

[0046]With reference now to FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a block diagram is shown that models a servo
control system in the HDD 1. Each block represents a transfer function. A
control object 31 in FIG. 3 is a servo control object of HDC/MPU 23,
including a motor driver unit 22, a VCM 15, an actuator 16, and
head-sliders 12. The manipulated variable for the control object 31 is
control data from HDC/MPU 23 to the motor driver unit 22 which represents
the VCM current. Feedback from the control object 31 are signals
indicating the current radial position of the magnetic-recording head by
servo data read by a head-slider 12. The servo control system in HDC/MPU
23 includes a main servo controller 231, a notch filter 232, a plurality
of adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b, and a fixed-peak filter 233,
which is a conventional peak filter. FIG. 3 exemplifies a system
including two adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b. Typically, these
functional components are implemented in hardware in HDC/MPU 23, but a
portion of the functions may be performed by computations by the MPU. In
one embodiment of the present invention, the peak filters 233, 234a and
234b and the notch filter 232 are configured as hardware to perform
operations without lag.

[0047]With further reference to FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the main servo controller 231 calculates the
VCM current in accordance with PESs, while providing control data
indicating the VCM current. The control by the main servo controller 231
is basically PID control, so that managing high vibration of the
head-slider 12, and the associated actuator 16, is difficult while
maintaining stable control. HDC/MPU 23 includes a notch filter 232
arranged serially with the main servo controller 231 and peak filters
233, 234a and 234b connected in parallel. The notch filter 232 mainly
acts to suppress resonance of the actuator 16. Reducing the component
corresponding to a resonant frequency of the actuator 16 in signals from
the main servo controller 231 leads to suppression of high vibration at
the resonant frequency of the actuator 16. HDC/MPU 23 includes one or
more notch filters. FIG. 3 exemplifies a single notch filter 232. The
notch filter 232 may be omitted if not necessary in design. The peak
filters 233, 234a and 234b act to suppress vibration of the head-slider
12, and the associated actuator 16, caused by disturbances. The
disturbances include RRO caused by disk eccentricity. The fixed-peak
filter 233 acts to suppress vibration whose peak frequency is
preliminarily known and constant. The characteristics of the fixed-peak
filter 233 are fixed; the peak frequency, the gain, and the filter
waveform are constant all the time. The number of fixed-peak filters to
be implemented is appropriately selected depending on the design of the
HDD 1.

[0048]In contrast, with further reference to FIG. 3, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, the adaptive peak filters 234a and
234b act to suppress a vibration caused by external vibration with
inconstant frequency. The number of adaptive peak filters to be
implemented is appropriately selected depending on the design of the HDD
1. In the present example, a configuration implementing two adaptive peak
filters 234a and 234b is next described. From servo data read by a
head-slider 12 included in the control object 31, HDC/MPU 23 creates
data, which are signals, indicating the current radial position of the
head-slider 12. HDC/MPU 23 possesses data indicating the target radial
position specified by a command from the host 51. HDC/MPU 23 calculates
PESs, which are data that are the difference between the target radial
position and the current radial position. The main servo controller 231
performs specific computations on the PESs to ascertain the VCM current
value to bring the head-slider 12 close to the target radial position, to
suppress the position error. The PESs are also input into the plurality
of peak filters 233, 234a and 234b connected in parallel with the main
servo controller 231. Each of the peak filters 233, 234a and 234b
includes a filter waveform that has maximum gain at a peak frequency and
drastically decreases in gain with further departure from the peak
frequency. Hence, a specific frequency component in the PESs is the
filter output.

[0049]With further reference to FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the outputs of the peak filters 233, 234a and
234b are added to the output of the main servo controller 231; and, the
incorporated results, which are signals, are applied to the notch filter
232. The fixed-peak filter 233 suppresses vibration caused in the
internal mechanism of the HDD 1. Upon suppression by the fixed-peak
filter 233, the resultant main cause of any remaining head vibration
caused by disturbances is external vibration. The adaptive peak filters
234a and 234b have been adapted to the disturbances, whose source is
mainly external vibration, so that the adaptive peak filters 234a and
234b may effectively suppress head vibration caused by the vibration
received from the external environment. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the HDC/MPU 23 includes a plurality of (two in the example in
FIG. 3) adaptive peak filters; and, the adaptive peak filters are
properly adapted. Before describing the adaptation of the plurality of
adaptive peak filters, an adaptation method of an individual adaptive
peak filter is next described.

[0050]With further reference to FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the adaptation of the adaptive peak filters
234a and 234b is subsequently described using formulae. In an embodiment
of the present invention, the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b have
identical filter characteristics so that the adaptive peak filters 234a
and 234b may be expressed by formulae including identical variable
coefficients. In one embodiment of the present invention, the
z-transformed output, Pkout, of the adaptive peak filters 234a and
234b may be expressed by Formula 1 and Formula 2:

Pkout(n)=2OSHCNT×[(P×z2+Q×z+R)/z2].t-
imes.U(n) (Formula 1)

Pkout(n)=2OSHCNT×[P×U(n)+Q×U(n-1)+R×U(n--
2)] (Formula 2)

In the formulae, U(n) is an internal variable of the adaptive peak filters
234a and 234b, which is time-series data including an internal variable
of the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b, and may be expressed by
Formula 3 and Formula 4:

U(n)=[z2/(z2-E×z-F)]×PES(n) (Formula 3)

U(n)=PES(n)+E×U(n-1)+F×U(n-2) (Formula 4)

where PES represents PESs; E, F, P, Q, R, and OSHCNT represent filter
coefficients; and n represents the sampling number. As is known, 1/z is
equivalent to a delay calculation. Internal variables are variables which
are employed in calculation of filter output other than the input, for
example, PES(n); U(n-1) and U(n-2) in the above formulae are internal
variables. U(n) may be calculated from U(n-1), U(n-2), and PES(n); U(n)
is time-series data, which also includes U(n-1) and U(n-2); internal
variables, as described herein, include U(n). The internal variables are
defined depending on the implementation method of a filter.

[0051]With further reference to FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, a filter coefficient, E, determines the peak
frequency of the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b. The filter
coefficient, E, may be expressed by the following Formula 5:

E=A0×cos(2π×f0×Ts) (Formula 5)

where f0 represents the peak frequency of adaptive peak filters 234a
and 234b, and Ts represents the sampling period which is equivalent
to the servo sampling period. HDC/MPU 23 changes the filter coefficient,
E, to change the peak frequency.

[0052]With further reference to FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, another filter coefficient, OSHCNT, is the
bit-shift amount in the output stage of the adaptive peak filters 234a
and 234b. The bit-shift amount, OSHCNT, determines the gain, also
referred to herein as "peak gain," of the adaptive peak filters 234a and
234b. HDC/MPU 23 changes the bit-shift amount to change the gain of the
adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b. The phase of the adaptive peak
filters 234a and 234b may be adjusted with F, P, Q, and R to secure the
stability of the feedback control system including the adaptive peak
filters 234a and 234b. In an embodiment of the present invention, the
filter coefficients are fixed at a low frequency range, but may be
variable to allow utilization in adaptation of the adaptive peak filters
234a and 234b. With the peak frequency coefficient, E, and the gain
coefficient, and associated bit-shift amount, OSHCNT, varied, the
adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b may be adjusted in frequency and gain
to be adapted to head vibration, and associated actuator vibration,
caused by external vibration.

[0053]With reference now to FIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a block diagram is shown that illustrates the
adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b, a setting updater 235 for computing
for their adaptation and updating a setting, and a selector 236 for
selecting an adaptive peak filter subjected to a setting update. The
selector 236 selects either the adaptive peak filter 234a or 234b at a
specific occasion. The setting updater 235 performs operations for
adaptation on the adaptive peak filter selected by the selector 236.
Typically, an MPU, for executing processes according to firmware,
functions as the selector 236 and the setting updater 235. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the adaptive peak filters 234a and
234b function only when external vibration is higher than the reference.
To this end, HDC/MPU 23 calculates a moving average of the squared values
of current and previous consecutive PESs to ascertain the variance, which
is the squared value of the standard deviation (sigma), of the PESs. If
the result exceeds a threshold level, HDC/MPU 23 enables the adaptive
peak filters 234a and 234b. HDC/MPU 23 may determine the existence, or
nonexistence, of external vibration from the internal variables while the
adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b are operating. The setting updater
235 updates the settings of the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b while
the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b are operating. Regardless of
execution, or non-execution, of a setting update, the two enabled
adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b are always active.

[0054]With reference now to FIG. 5, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a flow chart is shown that depicts this process,
which is next described. At S11, the HDC/MPU 23 determines whether or not
a threshold level of external vibration is exceeded. If not (N-branch
after S11), at S12, both of the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b are
disabled. If external vibration exists (Y-branch after S11), at S13, the
adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b are enabled. At S14, the selector 236
selects either the adaptive peak filter 234a or 234b at a specific
occasion. At S15, the setting updater 235 updates the settings, in other
words, performs adaptation, of the selected adaptive peak filter. The
selector 236 and the setting updater 235 repeat a selection of a portion
of the adaptive peak filters and a setting update on the adaptive peak
filters. The setting updater 235 updates, in other words, adapts, the
filter coefficients of the selected adaptive peak filter using PESs and
the internal variables of the selected adaptive peak filter. Thus, in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the external
vibration may be estimated without relying on the circuit elements, for
example, such as a vibration sensor, so that the adaptive peak filter may
be adjusted so as to suppress the external vibration.

[0055]With reference now to FIG. 6, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a block diagram is shown that schematically
depicts the configuration of the setting updater 235. The setting updater
235 includes a frequency setting updater 351 for updating the frequency
setting, which is provided by coefficient, E, of adaptive peak filters
234a and 234b, and a gain setting updater 352 for updating the gain
setting, which is provided by coefficient, OSHCNT. The frequency setting
updater 351 includes a frequency estimator 511 and a frequency setter
512. The gain setting updater 352 includes a magnitude estimator 521 and
a gain setter 522. The functional part to estimate the external vibration
includes the frequency estimator 511 and the magnitude estimator 521.
Similarly, the functional part to set the filter coefficients includes
the frequency setter 512 and the gain setter 522. In one embodiment of
the present invention, the setting updater 235 estimates head vibration,
and associated external vibration, from PESs obtained through servo data
and the internal variable, U, in the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b
and adjusts the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b to the vibration. In
an embodiment of the present invention, the setting updater 235 receives
data obtained in servo sampling and accumulates information for a filter
setting update during a specific period of a track-following operation.
The setting updater 235 updates the coefficients of the adaptive peak
filters 234a and 234b, which adapts the filters, according to the
information at a specific occasion.

[0056]With reference now to FIG. 7, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a diagram is shown that schematically depicts the
timing of information accumulation for estimating external vibration and
setting updates of the coefficients of an adaptive peak filter. As
illustrated in FIG. 7, in one embodiment of the present invention, an
occasion to update the filter coefficients is at the start of a seek
operation. This reduces the load in computations of the setting updater
235. The method for updating the filter coefficients is next described.

[0057]With further reference to FIG. 7, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, if the filtering characteristics of the
adaptive peak filter 234a are not updated at every servo sampling, but
rather, set at the start of a seek control operation, the control system
may be treated as a time invariant system so that limitation in the
update range of the filtering characteristics is relaxed to increase the
update range compared with in the past. Moreover, even with the increased
update range, transient responses of the adaptive peak filters 234a and
234b may be ended during the seek control operation, namely, until the
start of the next track-following control operation. Thus, the time to
suppress the disturbances included in PESs may be shortened. Furthermore,
a technique to set the filtering characteristics to the adaptive peak
filters 234a and 234b with the start of a seek control operation is
suitable for disturbances caused by external vibration, particularly for
disturbances caused by rotational vibration (RV), referred to by the term
of art, "RV disturbances." Namely, if positioning of a magnetic-recording
head is disturbed by disturbances caused by external vibration, the
positioning of the magnetic-recording head may succeed in retries.
Therefore, the next seek control operation and repetition thereof lead to
setting the filtering characteristics so as to suppress the disturbances
to the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b. In particular, when data
write or read requests which reveal performance deterioration caused by
degradation in positioning accuracy arise frequently, seek control is
frequently performed. Then, opportunities to update the filtering
characteristics of the adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b are secured
enough so that the filtering characteristics may be set to the adaptive
peak filters 234a and 234b swiftly and adequately.

[0058]With further reference to FIG. 7, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, adaptation of the adaptive peak filter 234a is
subsequently described in detail. The adaptation of the adaptive peak
filter 234b is substantially the same as the adaptation of the adaptive
peak filter 234a. First, adjustment of the frequency, referred to by the
term of art, "frequency adaptation," of the adaptive peak filter 234a
will be described. The frequency estimator 511 estimates the frequency of
disturbances included in the PESs based on the PESs and the internal
variable, U, of the adaptive peak filter 234a. Specifically, the
frequency estimator 511 determines which peak frequency is higher between
the peak frequency of the disturbances included in the PESs and the peak
frequency of the adaptive peak filter 234a based on the phase of the PESs
and the phase of the internal variable, U.

[0059]With further reference to FIG. 7, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, U(n) may be expressed as
R×sin(2π×n×f×Ts+Ω), where R represents
the amplitude; and, f represents the frequency. The magnitude
relationship between the peak frequency, f, of the disturbances and the
peak frequency, f0, of the adaptive peak filter 234a may be
determined by the following Formula 6:

Formula 6 indicates the magnitude relationship between the peak frequency
of the disturbances and the peak frequency of the adaptive peak filter
234a in each servo sampling. This formula is characterized by the sign,
which changes depending on the magnitude relationship between the
vibrating frequency, f, and the peak frequency, f0, of the adaptive
peak filter 234a. The frequency estimator 511 estimates the frequency, f,
using this measurement.

[0060]With further reference to FIG. 7, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the frequency estimator 511 obtains PESs and
the internal variable, U, at every servo sampling. The frequency
estimator 511 performs computations according to Formula 6 and
accumulates the results of the frequency magnitude relationship every
time the frequency estimator 511 obtains PESs and the internal variable,
U, during a track-following control operation. The frequency estimator
511 transfers the cumulative result, S, of the magnitude relationship to
the frequency setter 512 before the next seek control operation starts.
The cumulative result, S, of the magnitude relationship may be expressed
by the following Formula 7:

The total sum, Σ, in Formula 7 is obtained during a specific period
of a track-following control operation after a completion of a seek
operation and before the next seek control operation starts, defining a
cumulative result, S, of the magnitude relationship. Referring to the
sign, which may be positive, or negative, (+ or -) of the cumulative
result, S, the frequency estimator 511 determines the magnitude
relationship between the peak frequency of the disturbances included in
PESs, associated with head vibration caused by the disturbances, and the
peak frequency of the peak filter 234a during the track-following control
operation.

[0061]With further reference to FIG. 7, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, the frequency setter 512, next, determines the
update range of the peak frequency of the adaptive peak filter 234a based
on the cumulative result, S, of the magnitude relationship obtained from
the frequency estimator 511 and updates the peak frequency, f0, of
the adaptive peak filter 234a by the determined update range. Thus, in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the peak frequency,
f0, of the adaptive peak filter 234a may be brought closer to the
frequency, f, of the disturbances. One update is an adapting operation,
and generally, a plurality of times of executing the adapting operations
leads the peak frequency, f0, to converge on the external vibration
frequency, f. In one embodiment of the present invention, the frequency
setter 512 determines the update amount, dE, of the parameter, E,
representing the peak frequency of the adaptive peak filter 234a and
updates the parameter, E, included in the internal variable, U, of the
adaptive peak filter 234a (refer to the above Formula 1 and Formula 2). A
memory in HDC/MPU 23, or alternatively, RAM 24, includes the cumulative
results, S, of the magnitude relationship obtained through previous
track-following control operations. The frequency setter 512 determines
the update amount, dE, from the cumulative result, S, from the frequency
estimator 511 and the previous cumulative results, S.

[0062]With reference now to FIG. 8, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a diagram is shown that illustrates an example of
determining an update amount, dE, of a variable, E, indicating the peak
frequency of an adaptive peak filter. The update amount, dE, is
determined depending on the number, N, of consecutive times for which the
same sign appears in the cumulative results, S, from the past. The same
result appearing in the consecutive cumulative results, S, means that the
peak frequency, f0, of the adaptive peak filter 234a is considerably
different from the frequency, f, of the disturbances; the update amount,
dE, is increased as the consecutive number increases. The update amount,
dE, may be, for example, the number, N. According to the cumulative
result, S, calculated by the frequency estimator 511, if the same sign is
repeated from past cumulative results, S, for N times, the update amount,
dE, may be, N. Moreover, if the consecutive number, N, exceeds the upper
limit which has been set for the update amount, dE, the update amount,
dE, is the upper limit. If the consecutive number, N, is zero, the update
amount, dE, is zero. As described above, increasing the update amount,
dE, for the parameter, E, indicating the peak frequency, f0,
depending on the number, N, of consecutive times for which the same sign
appears in the cumulative results, S, reduces the time to suppress the
disturbances even if the peak frequency, f0, of the adaptive peak
filter 234a differs from the frequency, f, of the disturbances. In an
embodiment of the present invention, since the limit of the update range
in filtering characteristics is relaxed as described above, the update
amount, dE, determined in such a manner is acceptable.

[0063]With further reference to FIG. 8, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, adjustment of the gain, which is referred to by
the term of art, "gain adaptation," of the adaptive peak filter 234a is
next described. The magnitude estimator 521 estimates the magnitude of
the disturbances included in the PESs based on the internal variable, U,
of the adaptive peak filter 234a. The internal variable, U, of the
adaptive peak filter 234a is used to evaluate the magnitude of the
frequency component which is in the PESs and is suppressed by the
adaptive peak filter 234a. For example, as the peak frequency of the
adaptive peak filter 234a is converging on the frequency of the
disturbances, the gain from the PES affecting the internal variable, U,
in the peak filter increase. Consequently, the internal variable, U,
becomes greater, and conversely, the PESs become smaller. The internal
variable, U, is proportional to the product of the magnitude of the
disturbance component in the peak frequency included in the PESs and the
gain, associated with peak frequency, from the PES to the internal
variable, U, in the peak filter. Hence, after the peak frequency has
converged on the frequency of the disturbances, the magnitude of the
disturbances may be estimated from the internal variable, U, and the gain
from the PES affecting the internal variable, U, in the peak filter. The
magnitude estimator 521 estimates the existence, or non-existence, of
external vibration by estimating the magnitude of the external vibration.

[0064]With further reference to FIG. 8, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, specifically, the magnitude estimator 521
calculates UG(E), which is the internal variable, U, multiplied by a
correction value, G(E), based on the peak frequency to estimate the
magnitude of the disturbances. The internal variable, U, is obtained at
every servo sampling. The magnitude estimator 521 calculates UG(E) every
time the magnitude estimator 521 obtains the internal variable, U, during
a specific period of a track-following control operation. This period is
the same as the one for setting the peak frequency of the adaptive peak
filter 234a. Moreover, the magnitude estimator 521 squares UG(E) to
obtain (UG(E))2. In addition, the magnitude estimator 521 finds the
maximum value, T, from (UG(E))2 obtained at every servo sampling
during a track-following control operation, before the start of the next
seek control operation. The maximum value, T, may be expressed by Formula
8:

T=max((U×g(E))2) (Formula 8)

The magnitude estimator 521 filters the maximum value, T, with a low pass
filter and transfers the obtained value to the gain setter 522 as a
magnitude evaluation value, W, indicating the magnitude of the
disturbances. The filtering with the low pass filter may be expressed by
the following Formula 9:

W=[(1-c)/(z-c)]×T=[(1-c)/(z-c)]×max((U×g(E))2)
(Formula 9)

[0065]With further reference to FIG. 8, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, in this instance, the peak gain in frequency
characteristics from an input to the internal variable, U, of the
adaptive peak filter 234a is not constant, because the peak gain in
frequency characteristics depends on the peak frequency. The threshold
level for estimating the magnitude of disturbances may be prevented from
varying by multiplying the internal variable, U, by the correction value,
G(E). Multiplying the internal variable, U, by the correction value,
G(E), results in the corrected peak gain being substantially constant
regardless of the peak frequency, so that the magnitude of disturbances
may be estimated uniformly regardless of the peak frequency. The
correction value, G(E), is set to have a value which corresponds to the
difference between the peak gain and a preset reference value within the
possible range for the peak frequency. The correction value, G(E), is set
so that, in the possible range for the peak frequency, the peak gain will
be a little higher in a lower frequency range than in the other frequency
range. Since the servo system is more stable in a lower frequency range,
the setting makes a higher gain available. Squared UG(E) increases the
difference between the peak frequency range and other frequency range to
reduce the effect from the other frequency range.

[0066]With further reference to FIG. 8, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, use of the maximum value, T, enables evaluation
of the magnitude of disturbances even if intermittent disturbances such
as RV disturbance act intermittently during a track-following control
operation. Moreover, since the computations do not include divisions
which produce computational complexity, as in the calculation of an
average, the computation load in the control may be reduced. When
intermittent disturbances such as RV disturbance act, the low pass filter
may prevent the maximum value, T, from drastically varying at every
track-following control operation. Next, the gain setter 522 determines
the peak gain level of the adaptive peak filter 234a based on the
magnitude evaluation value, W, from the magnitude estimator 521 and
updates the peak gain to the determined level. Thus, in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention, the peak gain of the adaptive peak
filter 234a may be brought close to the level where the disturbances and
head vibration caused by the disturbances are suppressed. The gain setter
522 changes the bit-shift amount, OSHCNT, for adjusting the gain to
adjust the gain of the adaptive peak filter 234a and updates the peak
gain level (refer to Formula 3 and Formula 4).

[0067]With reference now to FIG. 9, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, a diagram is shown that illustrates an example of
a gain setting table. RAM 24 includes a gain setting table exemplified in
FIG. 9. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, instead of
such a gain setting table, formulae to determine the peak gain level may
be included in a program. The gain setting table includes threshold
levels for the magnitude evaluation value, W, in increasing the peak gain
level, which provide threshold levels for an increase, and threshold
levels for the magnitude evaluation value, W, in decreasing the peak gain
level, which provide threshold levels for a decrease. In each level, the
threshold level for a decrease has been set lower than the threshold
level for an increase. In an embodiment of the present invention, when
the magnitude evaluation value, W, is greater than the threshold level
for an increase in the current bit-shift amount, OSHCNT, the gain setter
522 increases the bit-shift amount, OSHCNT, to double the gain. When the
magnitude evaluation value, W, is smaller than the threshold level for a
decrease, the gain setter 522 decreases the bit-shift amount, OSHCNT, to
reduce the gain by half.

[0068]With further reference to FIG. 9, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, when the peak gain of the adaptive peak filter
234a is increased to increase the level of the suppression of
disturbances, the peak gain affects the PESs to decrease the internal
variable, U, of the adaptive peak filter 234a. Then, setting the
threshold level for a decrease lower than the threshold level for an
increase considering the decrease in the internal variable, U, may
restrain the peak gain of the adaptive peak filter 234a from varying in a
oscillatory manner. In the above example, the gain of the adaptive peak
filter 234a is roughly changed by twice, or alternatively, by half, by
changing the bit-shift amount, OSHCNT. As described above, in an
embodiment of the present invention, since the limitation to the update
range of the filtering characteristics is relaxed, such rough changes in
gain are acceptable. Moreover, the change in bit-shift amount, OSHCNT,
results in less computational complexity and reduction in computation
load. In this way, the individual adaptive peak filters may adapt to the
disturbances with their own internal variable, U, and PESs. The servo
system of the present example includes a plurality of adaptive peak
filters (two in the example of FIGS. 3 and 4). In the aforementioned
embodiment of the present invention, adaptation of an adaptive peak
filter includes computations for adaptation in servo sampling and update
of the filter coefficients at every seek operation, for example, in one
embodiment of the present invention, immediately before the start of a
seek operation.

[0069]In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, if the
computing time for adaptation is short and a servo sampling cycle is
sufficiently long, computing for adaptation of all of the adaptive peak
filters may be performed during servo sampling. To secure the computing
time for an interface and other operations such as reading or writing
data, however, the time available for adaptation is limited. On the other
hand, the function of adaptive peak filters is suppression of head
vibration caused by disturbances; even if adaptation consumes a certain
amount of time to increase performance, the associated delay will not
directly cause a hard error. In an embodiment of the present invention,
then, as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, HDC/MPU 23
selects a portion of the plurality of adaptive peak filters and adapts
only that portion of the plurality of adaptive peak filters that have
been selected. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, the selector 236 selects
either one of the two adaptive peak filters. When three or more adaptive
peak filters are implemented, the selector 236 selects one or more
adaptive peak filters, which are a portion of the implemented adaptive
peak filters. In one embodiment of the present invention, the number to
be selected is set to a certain value depending on the design. For
example, a simple and effective method sequentially selects different
adaptive peak filters one by one so as to select all of the adaptive peak
filters in a preset order.

[0070]In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method
of selecting an adaptive peak filter subjected to a setting update is
next described in detail. As described above, in an embodiment of the
present invention, the setting update in an adaptive peak filter is
performed at every seek operation. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the
present invention, the selection of an adaptive peak filter coincides
with every seek operation. Upon completion of a setting update in the
adaptive peak filter which has been selected immediately before, the
selector 236 selects an adaptive peak filter for the next adaptation. The
filter coefficients may be updated at a different occasion from the seek
start. For example, after a specific actual time has passed, the filter
coefficients may be updated in accordance with accumulated information.
In an embodiment of the present invention, when a setting update is
executed in this way after accumulating information, the time of the
selection coincides with the time of the update of the filter
coefficients. In one embodiment of the present invention, since a certain
amount of time elapses in accumulating information, after the setting
update of the selected adaptive peak filter, selection of an appropriate
adaptive peak filter can swiftly suppress external vibration. If the
setting may be updated at every servo sampling without accumulation of
information, setting updates may not coincide with selections. For
example, selection of an adaptive peak filter may be performed at every
seek operation; and, a setting update may be performed at every servo
sampling. This reduces operations in a limited time of servo sampling to
avoid adverse effects on other operations.

[0071]In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which
adaptive peak filter is selected, in addition to the timing of selection,
is taken account of when selecting an adaptive peak filter for
adaptation. Two different methods for selection are next described. One
method selects adaptive peak filters in a preset order at the time of
selection. The other method selects the next adaptive peak filter to be
adapted depending on the estimated external vibration frequency, which
corresponds to the amount to be varied in the peak frequency of the
adaptive peak filter. First, in the sequential selection method of
adaptive peak filters, a system having the two above-described peak
filters will be described by way of example. In the present example, the
setting update is executed at every seek operation. If the system
includes two adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b, the selector 236
selects one of the adaptive peak filters, 234a, immediately before the
start of a seek operation responsive to a command; and, the setting
updater 235 executes computations for adaptation of the adaptive peak
filter 234a in servo sampling in a track-following operation. At the
start, or alternatively, immediately before the start, of the next seek
operation, the setting updater 235 updates the filter coefficients of the
adaptive peak filter 234a.

[0072]In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, after the
setting update and at the start of the seek operation, the selector 236
selects the adaptive peak filter 234b as an adaptive peak filter to be
adapted. The setting updater 235 executes computations for adaptation of
the adaptive peak filter 234b in servo sampling in a track-following
operation and updates its filter coefficients at the start of the next
seek operation. The setting updater 235 and the selector 236 repeat these
operations to adapt the two adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b. In this
way, the process to sequentially select different adaptive peak filters
is simple and is easy to design. If selecting a plurality of adaptive
peak filters, a portion of the adaptive peak filters are sequentially
selected so as to include the adaptive peak filters excluded from the
previous selection.

[0073]With reference now to FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, diagrams are shown that
schematically depict variation in peak frequencies of adaptive peak
filters in adaptation. In FIG. 10(a), the change of a peak frequency, P1,
while an adaptive peak filter, for example, adaptive peak filter 234a, is
being adapted to external vibration is shown; and, in FIG. 10(b), the
change of peak frequencies, P1 and P2, while the adaptive peak filters
234a and 234b are being adapted to external vibration is shown. The two
adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b are adapted, and undergo filter
coefficients updates, alternately at every seek operation. In FIGS. 10(a)
and 10(b), the Y axis represents the number of seek operations, which is
associated with a time to perform the seek operations, and the horizontal
axis represents the peak frequency. In the present example, there is a
single resonant mode, associated with a peak frequency, T1, of external
vibration where the peak frequencies of the adaptive peak filters
approach one another. As illustrated in FIG. 10(a), when only one
adaptive peak filter is adapted, the peak frequency, P1, gradually
approaches the frequency of the external vibration at every seek
operation. Since the update amount in a filter update is limited for the
purpose of stabilization, several filter updates, associated with seek
operations, are utilized for the peak frequency, P1, to converge on the
external vibration frequency, T1. On the other hand, when two adaptive
peak filters are alternately adapted to external vibration and update
their filter coefficients, the peak frequencies, P1 and P2, as
illustrated in FIG. 10(b), alternately and gradually approach the
external frequency resonant mode, T1, to converge thereon. Similar to the
case where a single adaptive filter is adapted, the update amount in a
filter update for each adaptive peak filter is limited.

[0074]With further reference to FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, as may be understood by comparing
FIG. 10(a) with FIG. 10(b), switching adaptive peak filters for
adaptation to external vibration at every seek operation leads to the
computational complexity during servo sampling to have identical
complexity to the adaptation of a single adaptive filter. This situation
draws attention to the time until the convergence of the peak frequency,
P1, in the two graphs. If two adaptive peak filters are alternately
adapted (FIG. 10(b)), for the peak frequency, P1, to converge onto the
peak frequency, T1, of the external vibration, approximately twice the
time, associated with twice the number of seek operations, for a single
adaptive peak filter to converge (FIG. 10(a)) is needed. The peak gain of
the two converged adaptive peak filters is twice, for example, 6 decibels
(dB), as much as the peak gain of a single adaptive peak filter. In
contrast, the peak gain of a single adaptive peak filter shows variation
of tens of decibels. Hence, in an embodiment of the present invention,
for swift suppression of external vibration, a single adaptive peak
filter converges onto the peak frequency of external vibration as quickly
as possible.

[0075]With further reference to FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, then, depending on the variation
of the estimated frequency, associated with variation of the filter
coefficient, E, the adaptive peak filter subjected to adaptation, for
example, a setting change, next is selected. If the variation in the
estimated frequency is large, the same adaptive peak filter is selected;
and if the variation in the estimated frequency is small, another
adaptive peak filter is selected. In the above example having two
adaptive peak filters 234a and 234b, the selector 236 updates the filter
coefficients of an adaptive peak filter, and if the amount of the peak
frequency to be changed exceeds a threshold level, the selector 236
selects the same adaptive peak filter 234a as the object for the next
adaptation. If the amount of the peak frequency to be changed is smaller
than the threshold level, the selector 236 selects the other adaptive
peak filter as the object for the next adaptation.

[0076]With reference now to FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b), in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, diagrams are shown that
schematically depict variation in peak frequencies of adaptive peak
filters in adaptation. FIG. 11(a) schematically illustrates the change of
a peak frequency while an adaptive peak filter, for example, adaptive
peak filter 234a, is being adapted. FIG. 11(a) is the same as FIG. 10(a).
FIG. 11(b) schematically illustrates the change of peak frequencies, P1
and P2, when an adaptive peak filter is selected from two adaptive peak
filters 234a and 234b to adapt to the external vibration depending on the
differences between the current peak frequency and the estimated
frequency. If a threshold level to be compared with the variation in the
estimated frequency, associated with the filter coefficient, E, is set to
an appropriate value, after one adaptive peak filter has approach the
peak frequency of external vibration to considerably reduce the
vibration, the next adaptive peak filter may start its adaptation. The
timing for switching of adaptive peak filters for adaptation may be
adjusted with the threshold level value; in designing a HDD 1, the
threshold level is selected as appropriate to the design. In FIG. 11(b),
the peak frequency, P1, first converges on the external vibration, T1,
and then, the peak frequency, P2, converges on the external vibration,
T1. The time for convergence of both of the peak frequencies, P1 and P2,
is the same as in the example of FIG. 10(b), but the time for convergence
of one peak frequency, P1, is substantially half of the time for
convergence in the example of FIG. 10(b), which is the same as in the
examples of FIGS. 10(a) and 11(a). In this way, the peak frequency of an
adaptive peak filter swiftly approaches the external vibration to swiftly
suppress the external vibration. FIGS. 10(a), 10(b), 11(a), and 11(b)
describe examples in which external vibration has one peak frequency,
associated with the resonant mode; but, in an example in which external
vibration possesses two peak frequencies, the change in peak frequencies
of adaptive peak filters is next described.

[0077]With reference now to FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b), in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, diagrams are shown that
schematically depict variation in peak frequencies of adaptive peak
filters in adaptation. FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) schematically illustrate
adaptation of the peak frequencies, P1 and P2, of two adaptive peak
filters to external vibration having two resonant modes, T1 and T2. FIG.
12(a) schematically illustrates variation in peak frequencies, P1 and P2,
when two adaptive peak filters are alternately selected; FIG. 12(b)
schematically illustrates variation in peak frequencies, P1 and P2, when
adaptive peak filters are selected depending on the estimated frequency.
In FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b), the initial value of the filter peak frequency,
P1, is closer to the external vibration peak frequency, T1, than the
external vibration peak frequency, T2. On the other hand, the initial
value of the filter peak frequency, P2, is closer to the external
vibration peak frequency, T2, than the external vibration peak frequency,
T1. The filter peak frequency, P1, gradually approaches and converges on
the external vibration peak frequency, T1. On the other hand, the filter
peak frequency, P2, gradually approaches and converges on the external
vibration peak frequency, T2. If the initial filter peak frequency, P2,
is close to the external vibration peak frequency, T2, an adaptation
results in convergence on the external vibration peak frequency, T2. On
the other hand, until the filter peak frequency, P1, converges on the
external vibration peak frequency, T1, a plurality of seek operations are
utilized. In FIG. 12(a), after the convergence on the external vibration
peak frequency, T2, the filter peak frequency, P2, is still selected.
Therefore, the time to converge on the filter peak frequency, P1, which
has not converged, increases. In FIG. 12(b), an adaptive peak filter
which has not converged is selected with priority. Accordingly, compared
with an alternate selection, the filter peak frequency, P1, may converge
on the external vibration peak frequency, T1, more quickly.

[0078]With further reference to FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b), in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, when a plurality of adaptive peak
filters are implemented, the relationship between the adaptive peak
filters is considered, as well as characteristics of each adaptive peak
filter. In one embodiment of the present invention, to handle any types
of external vibration, the frequency variation ranges of all of the
adaptive peak filters are identical. Moreover, in another embodiment of
the present invention, all of the adaptive peak filters have identical
characteristics, including the gain. The filter characteristics,
associated with the filter coefficients, of an adaptive peak filter
changes depending on the peak frequency. Adaptive filters having
identical peak frequency, however, have identical filter coefficients.

[0079]With further reference to FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b), in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, to secure the stability of the
servo system, adaptive filters are characterized by phase characteristics
that change drastically depending on the variation in peak frequency. The
peak frequencies of peak filters change in accordance with the external
vibration and the peak frequencies of a plurality of adaptive filters may
approach each other. Even in such a case, in an embodiment of the present
invention, adaptive filters of the plurality of adaptive filters do not
seriously interfere with each other.

[0080]With reference now to FIG. 13, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, graphs are shown that present examples of the
filter coefficients of adaptive peak filters. To this end, as exemplified
in FIG. 13, in an embodiment of the present invention, the filter
coefficients of the adaptive filters vary consecutively and gradually
with respect to the variation in peak frequencies. Specifically, when a
first adaptive peak filter of the plurality of adaptive peak filters
exists in an area within a half bandwidth of a second adaptive peak
filter of the plurality of adaptive peak filters such that the phase
difference between the first and second adaptive peak filters is less
than or equal to 90 degrees, the selector 236 selects the first adaptive
peak filter of the plurality of adaptive peak filters. If adaptive peak
filters have identical characteristics and have identical values for
their internal variables, the adaptive peak filters subjected to
concurrent disturbance estimation and setting update exhibit the same
change. For example, when all the adaptive filters are convergent on one
external vibration frequency, even if a new plurality of external
vibration peaks are generated, the plurality of adaptive peak filters
cannot converge on different peaks, but all the adaptive peak filters
have the same peak frequency.

[0081]With further reference to FIG. 13, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention, as described above, the servo system selects a
portion of a plurality of adaptive peak filters and performs a setting
update, which is an adaptation. Regardless of the selection, or
non-selection, for the setting update, all adaptive peak filters are
active. Accordingly, if a portion of the adaptive peak filters change in
their characteristics, the head vibration changes. The adaptive peak
filters converge on a vibration having larger vibration energy, so that
different adaptive peak filters may converge on different external
vibration peaks. In normal operations, to secure the time for operations
other than the servo control, the time available for the adaptation of
adaptive peak filters is limited. Moreover, margins are also secured. In
an error recovery for handling a failure in a reading or writing
operation, however, more time for adaptation may be obtained during servo
sampling, for example, by omitting a data reading or writing. Otherwise,
for quick error recovery, a smaller margin may be accepted.

[0082]With reference now to FIG. 14, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, diagrams are shown that illustrate the structure
of adaptive peak filters to be selected for adaptation in normal
operations and in an error recovery. In an embodiment of the present
invention, in an error recovery, the number of adaptive peak filters
selected for adaptation is greater than in normal operations. If two
adaptive peak filters are implemented as in the above described example,
as schematically illustrated in FIG. 14, an adaptive peak filter is
selected in normal operations and two adaptive peak filters are selected
in an error recovery. In FIG. 14, SRV is a computational process for main
servo control, APF 1 is computations for adaptation of an adaptive peak
filter, and APF 2 is computations for adaptation of the other adaptive
peak filter. Alternatively, if three adaptive peak filters are
implemented and an adaptive peak filter is selected in normal operations,
in an error recovery, two or three adaptive peak filters are selected.
Selection of more adaptive peak filters in this way leads to swift
convergence of adaptive peak filters, increased accuracy in head
positioning, and the error recovery. In an embodiment of the present
invention, after all adaptive peak filters have converged, the number of
adaptive peak filters to be selected is returned to the number in normal
operations. This reduces effects on other operations during servo
sampling.

[0083]With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 14, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, HDC/MPU 23 controls execution of
error recovery. Specifically, HDC/MPU 23 executes an error recovery
according to an error recovery table in RAM 24. The error recovery table
includes a plurality of error recovery operations and HDC/MPU 23
sequentially executes the error recovery operations in order of the
operation with the highest priority, first. In the error recovery, for
example, HDC/MPU 23 executes adaptation with selecting more adaptive peak
filters than in normal operations. Alternatively, HDC/MPU 23, in a
specific error recovery operation, may execute adaptation selecting more
adaptive peak filters than in normal operations; and, in the other error
recovery operations, HDC/MPU 23 may select the same number of adaptive
peak filters as in normal operations.

[0084]As set forth above, embodiments of the present invention have been
described by way of examples; but, embodiments of the present invention
are not limited to the above-described embodiments of the present
invention. A person skilled in the art may easily modify, add, or convert
the components in the above-described embodiments of the present
invention within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present
invention. For example, the number of adaptive peak filters to be
selected for adaptation may be one, or alternatively, a plurality,
depending on the design. In adaptive peak filters, in one embodiment of
the present invention, both the peak frequency and the gain may be
variable and adapted to the external vibration. Embodiments of the
present invention, however, may be applied to a servo system with a
plurality of adaptive peak filters implemented in which, either one is
variable, or alternatively, characteristics other than the peak frequency
and the gain, for example, half bandwidth, are variable. In one
embodiment of the present invention, the estimation of external vibration
may be performed using internal variables and PESs in a filter; but,
embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a servo system
employing other methods for estimating disturbances, for example,
external vibration, from servo data without using the internal variables
of the filter, for example, a system including a disturbance observer.
Moreover, the characteristics of external vibration to be estimated may
be selected depending on the characteristics of an adaptive peak filter.

[0085]The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present
invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed, and many modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments
described herein were chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby
enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and
various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.